Desk and seat combination



March 30, 1954 E. J. KUMP, JR DESK AND SEAT COMBINATION Filed May 2, 1949 INVENTOR. ERNEST a.

fiy I W, 9

KUMP JR.

ATTORN EYS Patented Mar. 30, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to school furniture in general, and more specifically to a unitary desk and seat.

Modern schools have found that school desks and seats should be free from securement to the floor and that the seats and desks should be so constructed that each desk and the seat for the same are separate from the other desks and seats so that the equipment for each pupil is complete in itself for one pupil only.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a desk and seat as above described, and the construction of which is such that neither the desk and the seat therefor nor their supports, will interfere with cleaning the floor below the desk and seat, nor is there any cross member or obstruction below the desk or seat to freedom of movement of the feet of a person on said seat.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a unitary desk and seat therefor, in which the seat is adjustable relative to the desk to different distances from the latter, and in which the seat and desk are connected together as a unit for moving about.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a desk-seat combination that is simple and economical to make and which can be readily assembled and disassembled without requiring skilled workmen.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and in the drawings.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through th combination.

Fig. 2 is a reduced size perspective view of the deskeat combination.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged. fragmentary sectional View taken along line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

In detail, the main frame comprises a length of metal tubing that is preferably square in crosssectional contour, which tubing is bent at a point centrally between its ends to provide an inverted generally U-shaped portion that is generally designated 5. This structure provides a pair of upwardly disposed convergently extending legs 2, 3 that are integrally connected at their upper by the U-bend l.

At their lower ends, the legs 2, 3 are arcuately bent in. one direction, at 5, and are extended in parallel, spaced, side by side relationship as at These portions 5, l are, in turn, provided with extensions ii, 9 that may be integrally secured thereto by welding or by any other suitable means. Extensions 8, 9 are in longitudinal alignment with the portions 6, 1, and are preferably of the same external cross sectional contour as the internal square cross sectional contour of the portions 6, I so as to be telescopically held in said portions.

Telescopically slidable on the extensions 8, 9 are tubular sections I 0, l I that correspond in material and cross sectional contour with the portions (5, l. The extensions 8, 9 may each be provided with a plurality of spaced openings I l. These are the same for each extension, and a pin l5 threadedly secured on each extension is adapted to extend into one of the openings 14 for holding the sections II], II at the desired degree of extension on extensions 1, 8. These pins may be formed with an internal recess in one end for engagement by a special tool for loosening and tightening said pins. This is to discourage the pupils from loosening the pins without proper authorization. So called Phillips screws are suitable.

The portions 6, I, extensions 8, 9 and sections l0, H cooperate to provide a pair of horizontally extending runners on the forward upwardly extending legs 2, 3.

Feet 24 at the bends between legs 2, 3 and ex tensions 6, l, and feet 25, 26 at the opposite ends of the sections l0, H are preferably of rubber or the like to provide friction floor engaging surfaces or supports. These are secured to downward projections 21 that in turn are secured to the bends and to said sections I0, I I.

On sections [0, II are secured the lower ends of inverted U-shaped supports 28, 29, each of which is preferably formed of the same size and shape of tubing as member I. The supports 23, 29 are identical as to their size and shape, and their lower ends may be welded to the sections I0, I l adjacent opposite ends of each of the latter.

Cross braces 30, 3|, also of the same tubular material as that of said supports 28, 29 may extend between the upper ends of said supports at about the point Where the U-bends 32 commence to curve. These may be rigidly secured to said braces at their ends by Welding, or in any other suitable manner.

Secured to the upper ends of said supports 28, 29 is a seat 33. This seat 33 has tubular upwardly extending back supports as that carry a back rest 35 at their upper ends, and that extend at 36 below the seat 33. The seat is secured to. ,said extensions 36 by any suitable means, and i these extensions .arefwelded or otherwise'suitably securedto the supports 28, 29 at the U-bends in the latter. The U'ben-ds extend across the oppositely outwardly facing sides of extension 36 and to which they are secured.

Secured to the forward inverted U-shaped member I is the receptacle 38 for books etc., and which receptacle is preferably divided into a rear compartment 39 and a forward compartment 40.

The walls ofthe rear compartment 39 comprise vertically extending opposed side walls 4!, a bottom wall 42 and a top wall 43. This top wall may be slightly inclined downwardly toward a person seated on seat 33. The rear end of said compartment is open for insertion of books into the same, and for removal of such books therefrom. The rear marginal portion 44 of bottom t2 is turned upwardly to prevent books and the like from accidentally sliding out of the rear open end when the desk is moved about.

The compartment 40 has lateral side walls 45 that are in forward extension or continuation of walls 4|, and said walls 45 preferably extend downwardly below the lower edges of the walls 4|, inasmuch as compartment 40 is deeper than compartment 39.

A dividing wall 41 constitutes a partition between the compartments 39, 40, and projects downwardly at 48 at its lower end to define the rear wall of the compartment 40 where the latter projects below compartment 39.

The compartment 40 has a front wall 49, a bottom wall 50 and a top closure the latter being hingedly connected to the upper edge of front wall 49 at 52.

The upper portion of legs 2, 3 and the U-bend connecting said legs, extend along the rearwardly facing side of the wall 41 and the bottom wall 42 is centrally cut out along its edge that is adjacent wall 41 to permit said U-bend to extend to almost the upper edge of the dividing wall 41. A screw 54 at the U-bend may extend through the latter and into wall 41, and similar screws 55 may connect the legs 2, 3 with the lower portion of wall 41.

A cross bar 58 may connect the legs 2, 3 at a point about even with the lower edge of the wall 41, and a second bar 51 may extend between said bars higher up, to close the space between the edge of the bottom wall 42 and wall 41 that is between the legs 2, 3 at the level of said bottom wall.

At about the juncture between the top walls 43, 5|, and below them, is a strip 58 that is formed with an upwardly directed recess 59 for holding pens, pencils, etc., while the marginal portion of top wall 5| opposite hinges 52 has a lip Bil that extends over said recess when the top is closed.

A block 5| secured in the upper right hand corner of compartment holds an ink well 62 that is adapted to be closed by top closure 5|.

The dividing wall 41 inclines downwardly in direction away from a person seated on seat 33, and forward wall 49 has the same inclination. The member i has the same incline as walls 41, 43 so that the lower ends of said members are farither from a person on seat 33 than the upper en s.

Angular braces 63 at the lower ends of legs 2, 3 rigidly secure the legs against objectionable springing under force on the receptacle or the weight of books.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the receptacle and member i may be readily assembled by anyone having merely ordinary skill, and the seat with its sections [0, II are readily connected with the desk support.

The seat is quickly and easily adjusted toward and from the receptacle 38 and it is important that they be firmly secured against accidental movement relatively when once in correct position.

The space below the desk and seat from end to end of the runners, is free for cleaning. There are no obstacles, such as cross bars to interfere with the feet or legs of a person on the seat, nor to obstruct cleaning of the floor.

The desk and seat may also be quickly moved about without disturbing their relationship to each other.

I claim:

1. A unitary piece of school furniture comprising a pair of horizontally extending spaced runners in side by side relationship, upwardly extending extensions on one of the corresponding ends of said runners, a receptacle secured to the upper ends of said extensions, a top on said receptacle providing a generally horizontally disposed working surface, upwardly extending spaced legs secured on each said runners providing a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs and a seat for a person secured to the upper ends of said legs, said runners including inner and outer relatively slidable telescopically fitted portions for telescopic movement of the outer portions relative to the inner portions longitudinally of said runners, said inner portions being rigid with said extensions, and said legs being rigidly secured to said outer portions for movement on the latter toward and away from said extensions whereby the distance between said seat and said receptacle may be varied, means for securing said outer portions to said inner portions in adjusted position on the latter and said outer portions respectively terminating closely adjacent to said front legs.

2. A unitary piece of school furniture comprising a pair of horizontally extending spaced runners in side by side relationship, upwardly extending extensions on one of the corresponding ends of said runners, a receptacle secured to the upper ends of said extensions, a top on said receptacle providing a generally horizontally disposed working surface, upwardly extending legs secured on each of said runners with a pair of legs on each runner the legs of each pair being in a vertical plane and extending convergently upwardly relative to each other from their lower ends and inverted U-bends respectively integrally connecting the upper ends of the legs that are on each runner, said seat being secured to said U-bends and extending between and over the space between the runners.

3. A unitary piece of school furniture comprising a pair of horizontally extending spaced runners in side by side relationship, upwardly extending extensions on one of the corresponding ends of said runners, a receptacle secured to the upper ends of said extensions, a top on said receptacle providing a generally horizontally disposed working surface, upwardly extending legs secured on said runners and a seat for a person secured to the upper ends of said legs, said extensions extending convergently upwardly from said runners and an inverted U-bend integrally connecting them at their upper end, said. receptacle being secured to said U-bend and laterally'ofiset therefrom toward said seat at a distance above the latter to enable the knees of a person on said seat to be positioned beneath said receptacle.

4. A unitary piece of school furniture comprising a pair of horizontally extending spaced runners in side by side relationship, upwardly extending extensions on one of the corresponding ends of said runners, a receptacle secured to the upper ends of said extensions, a top on said receptacle providing a generally horizontally disposed Working surface, upwardly extending legs secured on said runners and a seat for a person secured to the upper ends of said legs, said runners and said extensions being formed from a length of metal tubing with said extensions integrally joined at their upper ends by an inverted U-bend in said tubing, rubber feet below said runners secured thereto for supporting said runners on the floor.

5. A unitary piece of school furniture comprising an inverted generally U-shaped tubular member providing a pair of divergently downwardly extending legs, a pair of horizontally extending runners integrally connected at one of their ends with the lower ends of said legs with the plane of said member extending generally transversely of said runners, a desk top secured to the upper end of said member and extending over said runners, a seat spaced above said runners, legs securing said seat to said runners with said seat projecting partially below said top, a shelf below said desk top for books and the like and an end Wall at the end of said shelf that is remote from the edge nearest said seat projecting downwardly below said shelf, means for securing said upper ends of said member to said end wall.

6. A unitary piece of school furniture comprising an inverted generally U-shaped tubular member providing a, pair of divergently downwardly extending legs, a pair of horizontally extending runners integrally connected at one of their ends with the lower ends of said legs, a desk top secured to th upper end of said memher and extending over said runners, a seat spaced above said runners, legs separate from said downwardly extending legs securing said seat to said runners with said seat projecting partially below said top, said last mentioned legs being in pairs with one pair secured to each runner, each of said pairs of legs being integrally connected at their upper ends and being a length of tubing bent to provide an inverted U-shaped element, said seat being secured adjacent two of its opposite edges to the upper end of said elements at the U-bends.

7. A unitary piece of school furniture comprising an inverted generally U-shaped tubular member providing a pair of divergently downwardly extending legs, a pair of horizontally extending runners integrally connected at one of their ends with the lower ends of said legs with the plane of said member extending generally transversely of said runners, a desk top secured to the upper end of said member and extending over said runners, a seat spaced above said runners, legs separate from said downwardly extending legs securing said seat to said runners with said seat projecting partially below said top, means for securing the lower ends of said last mentioned legs to said runners for movement longitudinally of the latter to different positions from said member.

ERNEST J. KUMP, JR.

110,686 Sweden May 23, 1944 

